Electric coupling



W. A. DARRAH AND R. G. AVERILL.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

APPLICATION man AUG.20. 1917.

- Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET IEIE 1 BEE] III! auuunfot s WILLIAM A.DARRAH l vi-l ncm REX G. AVERILL W. A. DARRAH AND R. G. AVERILL.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.20. I917.

1,392,558. Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

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1 A awuauior/s 8 WILLIAM A. DARRAH wi/tmmw A x I R X G. AVERILL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. DARRAH AND REX G. AVERILL, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORC TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, OF MANSFIELD, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Application filed August 20, 1917. Serial No. 187,068.

" T all whomit may concern:

Be it known that we, \VILLIAM A. DARRAH and REX G. AvERILL, citizens of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric coupler which is particularly adapted to be used in connecting a plurality of separate and distinct circuits of a multiple control system for electric cars and trains, or other signal, light, heat or control circuits.

One object of. the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which will be simple, durable and cheap in construction, capable of easy repair and effective and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to com bine the various metal parts comprising a single contacting means within an insulation mounting thus constituting an independent contact making unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of arranging a plurality of contact making units within a housing in a manner that will permit of any one of the units being independently removed or replaced without interrupting any of the other units.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with an electric coupler means for automatically closing and opening an electric circuit when the coupler is engaged or disengaged with another car.

\Vith these and other objects in view, which will be apparent in the specification, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the adjacent end portions of two railaway cars coupled together and provided with electric couplers of the type embodying our invention shown as usually attached to the heads of the mechanical coupling devices, the arrangement of the parts being such, that when the cars are in coupled relation, the electric connectors will be engaged thus completing the various electric circuits, the pairs of contacts for corresponding wires being in the same plane.

Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the coupler shown in section illustrating the arrangement of the various parts.

Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the cou plers.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the rear portion of a coupler showing an auxiliary connecting device.

Fig. 7 is an end view of a contact making unit and portion of the web.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the preferred construction of two cooperating contact units.

Figs. 10 and 11, show modified forms of the construction of contact units shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In the drawings, numeral 1 designates the rear end of the adjacent portions of two cars, shown in Fig. 1. Each of the cars is shown equipped with a suitable draw bar 2. The details of the draw bars or mechanical connectors between the cars is not shown, as it will be obvious the invention is applicable to cars provided with any form of draft gears or mechanical connectors either automatic or hand operated. The forward extremities of the draw bars 2, are shown supported by the usual carriers 3.

It will be noted that the electric couplers 4, on each of the draw bars are similar in construction, being used in pairs, and therefore the description of one of the couplers will answer for both, and in the drawings the similar parts of the cooperating couplers are designated by like reference characters.

Reference numeral 5, indicates the housing having a removable cover 6 secured to one end and provided with webs 7 and 8 preferably made integral therewith. The web 7 is provided with suitable apertures 9 adapted to slidably receive the body portion 10 of the insulation mounting of a contact making unit A, hereinafter fully described. Apertures 11 formed in the web 8 and in line with the apertures 9, slidably receive the reduced extension 12 of the body portion 10, the apertures 11 being counterbored to receive the shoulder 13 of the insulation mounting whereby a seat is provided for the same.

The contact making units A are retained within the housing 5 by means of the face block ll, which is removably secured in the end of the housing by screws 14. The "face block l; consists of a frame 15 having an insulation filling 16 provided with apertures 17. The apertures 17 being arranged in alinement with the apertures 9 and 11 and are counterbored to receive the end of the insulation mounting as indicated at 18. Lugs 19 formed on the insulation mounting are adapted to engage notches 20 provided in the apertures 11, for the purpose of preventing rotative movement of the contact making units A, when positioned within the housing.

From the foregoing description and by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be apparent that the contact making units A are securely mounted in the housing 5 in a fixed relation with respect to each other, and that the relation of the parts is such as will permit of any one of the units being independently removed or replaced without disturbing any of the other units. This is a very desirable feature in a device of this character as almost any conceivable electrical or mechanical destruction will be confined to one or more of the contact making units, which can be replaced without involving the loss of any other part, minimizing the re pair expense.

The important feature of the present invention consists in the arrangement of the various metal parts, comprising a single contacting means, within an insulation mounting, thereby constituting a single contact making unit, and in the construction of a device of this character, the employment of any desired number of contact making units, arranged within a suitable housing in a manner permitting of independent removal of the contact making units for the urpose of making repairs or to be replace. Several forms and arrangements of the Various parts comprising the contact making unit embodied in the present invention will be described and shown in the accompanying drawings, as it will be obvious that any of the forms illustrated, including modifications of the same, are equally applicable in the present invention.

For the sake of clearness, we hereby define the contact making unit herein referred to and mentioned in the claims, as comprising a single contactor with the various metal parts associated therewith arranged within an insulation housing or mounting, constituting as a Whole, a single working unit separable and independent of any other or similar units.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we have shown the preferred construction of two cooperating contact making units A and which consist of, referring to Fig. 8, the insulation mounting D, having the stem 21 of the contactor 22 securely embedded therein, the end of the stem projecting through the insulation mounting and being provided with nuts 23, and..-wasliers 2-l tor thepurpose of attaching aconductor thereto. The latter means of attaching, it will be noted, common in the various forms illustrated and will not be referred to hereinafter. The cooperating contact making unit A, referring to Fig. 9, consists of the insulation mounting l), having a live elongated terminal plug 25 movably mounted in one end thereof, which is normally held in a "forward position by the spring 26, and a movable contactor 27 provided with a shouldered portion 28 mounted in the opposite end thereof. The movable contactor 27 is normally held out of engagement with the live plug 25 by the spring 29, which exerts a forward pressure upon the contactor, thereby yieldingly maintaining th shouldered portion 28 thereof in engagement with the end surface 30 of the counterbore provided in the face block. This arrangement provides for a break in the circuit between the live plug and the contactor whereby the latter is rendered dead when not engaged with a cooperating contactor and which otherwise would be dangerously exposed in the face of the device when out of coupling relation.

Fig. 10 shows another form of contact making unit A, which is'adapted to 006perate with the type or" contact making unit shown in Fig. 8, and which it will be noted by comparison is similar to the form shown in Fig. 9, differing only in the construction oil. the parts affecting the manner in which the electrical connection is made between the normally dead contactor and the live contactual engagement the extension 31' iii preferably made integral with the movable contactor 27.

Another form of contact making unit A is shown in Fig. 11 in which the depressible contactor 27 is threadially connected with the stem 33 which is slidably mounted in the insulation mounting D. The contactor 27 is normally maintained in a forward position by means of engagement with the spring 3%. This type of contact making unit A may be provided with a depressible contactor having an end formed as shown in full lines adapted to cooperate with the type of unit shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, this arrangement pro vides for the construction of two cooperating contact making units each provided with a depressible contactor, one of the units having a contactor provided with an end as shown in full lines and the other, or cooperating unit, having a contactor provided with an end as indicated by dotted lines, which is similar to the contactor 22; other wise the structure of the two cooperating units being identical throughout.

The contactors 22 and 27 are adapted to be loosely received within the apertures 17 and when positioned therein have their ends projecting beyond the surface of the face block B.

It is also one of the features of the present invention to provide auxiliary connect-- ing means affected in engaged or disengaged positions of the movable live plug members. The means automatically closing the door or light signal circuit when the coupler is not in engaged relation with a cooperating coupler on another car, and which, when the coupler is engaged in the latter manner, are open, the circuit referred to, in that event, being closed between the connected cars by means of the cooperating contactors. This is attained byproviding contact fingers 36 and 37 which are attached to the live plug members 25 and an insulation mounting 1), arranged intermediate therewith, having a conductor 38 secured to the end thereof by means generally indicated at 39; The contact fingers 36 and 37 are adapted to engage the upturned ends 40 and 41 of the conductor 38 when the live plug members 25 are normally resting in the forward position which they assume when not engaged for coupling purposes, affecting a cross connection between the'parts whereby the circuit will be closed. The line plug'mezribers 25, when in coupling engagement, are moved to a rearward position, carrying the contact fingers 36 and 37 which are attached thereto, out of engagement with the conductor 38 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, the circuit being closed through the connected cars by means of the cooperating contactors.

Having-fully described our invention and shown one form embodying the same, we do not wish to be limited to the details of the construction shown, since these can be obviously changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric coupler for connecting a train line circuit, a metallic housing, a web provided with a perforation and a contact making unit comprising an insulation holder independently removably mounted within the housing and projecting through said per foration and means for retaining the contact unit in position in the housing.

2. An electric coupler for a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing having a web provided with a perforation, a contact making unit independently removably mounted in the housing, said contact making unit comprising an insulation holder receivable within said perforation and provided with a shoulder for engagement with the web whereby said unit is supported and means for maintaining said unit within the housing.

An electric coupler-for a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing provided wlth a, web having a perforation formed therein, a contact making unit independently removably mounted in the housing and having a portion thereof extending through said perforation, said contact making unit comprising a contactor and an insulation holder therefor provided with a shoulder to engage the web and thereby prevent movement of sald unit in one direction, and an insulation face block removably secured in one end of the housing for retaining said contact making unit within the housing.

4 An electric coupler for connecting a tram line circuit comprising a metallic housmg having an opening formed therein; a contact making unit remov-ably mounted in said opening, the contact making. unit comprising an insulation holder, mechanism within the holder to make and break an electrical connection, a depressible contactor movably mounted at one end of the casing and projecting therefrom, means for attachment of a conductor to the make and break mechanism and means for maintaining the contact making unit positioned within the housing.

5. An electric coupler for connecting a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing, a contact making unit independently removably arranged in the housing, said unit 100 comprising an insulation casing, a live terminaland a separate movable contactor mounted and inclosed within the casing, and resilient means interposed between the contactor and terminal and tending to normally hold 105 the movable contactor away from the terminal, but yielding under pressure to permit movement of the contactor into engagement with the terminal and means for retaining the unit in position in the housing.

6. An electrical connecting device comprising a metallic housing, a contact making unit arranged therein, said contact making unit comprising an insulation holder, a live terminal and a separably movable contactor 115 mounted within the holder, resilient means for normally holding the movable contactor in spaced relation with the live terminal, resilient means for yieldingly holding the contactor and the terminal together when 120 the live terminal is depressed. and means for retaining the said unit within the housing.

7. In an electrical coupler, a metallic housing provided with a web forming a pocket in one end thereof; a contact making having a perforation to receive said contactor removably secured in said pocket whereby the unit is retained within the housing.

8. An electrical connecting device com prising a metallic housing and a contact making unit mounted in the housing, the unit comprising a live terminal and a movable contactor and resilient means normally holding the contactor in spaced relation with the terminal, in combination with auxiliary connecting means whereby an independent circuit is closed when the contactor and terminal are normally out of engagement and means for holding the unit in position in the housing.

9. An electric coupler for a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing having a web provided with a perforation, a contact making unit independent of and removably mounted in the housing, said contact making unit comprising an insulation holder adapted to engage the web and a contactor extending through the perforation and an insulation face block removably secured to one face of the housing to retain the contact making unit within the housing.

10. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing having a web formed therein, a contact making unit arranged within the housing, means for retaining the unit in engagement with the said web, the contact making unit being independently removable from the housing and when positioned therein is locked against rotative movement by means consisting of a notch formed in the web, and a lug provided on the surface of the contact making unit adapted to engage therewith.

11. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing, a contact making unit comprising an insulation holder independently removably mounted within the housing, one end of the contact making unit being provided with means for attaching a conductor thereto, a face block removably mounted in one end of the housing for the purpose of retaining the contact making unit therein, and provided with an aperture adapted to receive the said contactor, and a removable cover secured to the other end of the housing.

12. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing, a contact making unit comprising an insulation holder movably mounted in the housing, one end of the said unit having means for attaching a conductor thereto, and the opposite end being provided with a depressible contactor, a face block removably mounted in one end of the housing adapted to retain the contact making unit therein, and provided with an aperture adapted to loosely receive the depressible contactor and a removable cover secured to the other end of the housing.

13. An electric coupler for a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing having a web provided with a perforation, a

contact making unit independent of and removably mounted in the housing, said contact making unit comprising an insulation holder adapted to engage the web and a yielding contactor extending through the perforation and an insulation face block removably secured to one face of the housing to retain the contact making unit within the housing.

14. In an electric coupler for connecting a plurality of separate and distinct circuits of two or more electric cars, a metallic housing provided with means for securing it to a support. a plurality of contact making units each separably mounted and consistingof an insulation mounting having a spring controlled live plug member mounted in one end thereof and a spring controlled contactor movably mounted in the opposite end thereof, the contactor being normally out of engagement with the live plug member but adapted to be moved into engagement therewith by the pressure of a cooperating contactor of another coupler, and a face block provided with perforations adapted to loosely receive said contactors removably secured in the end of the housing.

15. In an electric coupler for connecting a plurality of separate and distinct circuits of two or more electric cars, a metallic housing provided with means for attachment to a car, a plurality of separable contact making units each separably mounted and consisting of an insulation mounting having the stem of a contactor embedded therein, said stem projecting through and beyond one end of the insulation mounting and provided with means for attaching a conductor thereto and a face block removably secured in the end of the housing and provided with openings through which said contactors project.

16. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing having a plurality of contact making units removably mounted therein and a face block adapted to retain the said units within the housing, the contact making units being provided in one end thereof with a movable live plug member normally held in a forward position by spring means, and a spring controlled depressible contactor movably mounted in the opposite end thereof, the said contactor being normally out of engagement with the live plug member but adapted by the pressure of a cooperating contactor to engage therewith, the live plug member being movably engaged assuming a rearward position when the parts are in coupling relation, in combination with auxiliary connecting means whereby a circuit is automatically closed when the coupler is out of engaged relation with a cooperating coupler on another car.

17. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing having a plurality of contact making units removably mounted therein, and a face block adapted to retain the said units within the housing removably secured in the end thereof, in combination with auxiliary conneoting means adapted to automatically close a circuit when the coupler is out of engaged or coupling relation, and having a part projecting from the surface of the face block adapted to be engaged by a cooperating coupler, when the two couplers are in engaged relation, whereby the means will be disconnected, the circuit being closed by means of the cooperating contactors of the two companion couplers when in engaged relation.

18. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing having a plurality of contact making units removably mounted therein, and a face block, adapted to retain the said units within the housing, removably secured in the end thereof, the contact making units having a movable live plug member normally resting in a forward position which is movably engaged assuming a rearward position when the coupler is in coupling or engaged relation, in combination with auxiliary connecting means for automatically closing a circuit when the cou ler is moved out of enga ement or couphng relation with the coupler on another car, consisting of two contact fingers, one secured to the live plug member adapted, when forwardly positioned, to engage the other which is rigidly supported on a mounting within the housing, the fingers being disengaged when the live plug member is rearwardly positioned.

19. In an electric coupler, a metallic housing, a face block provided with apertures concentrically counterbored in one side thereof, and a removable cover attached to the opposite end of the housing, in combination with a plurality of contact making units, independently removably mounted within the housing, consisting of an insulation mounting having a body portion provided with a reduced extension, a contactor mounted in the end of the body portion, and means for attaching a conductor provided on the opposite end thereof, the said face block being adapted to retain the contact making units within the housing, the apertures provided therein loosely receiving the said contactors and the concentrically formed counterbore engaging the ends of the body portion of the units which project therein.

20. In an electric coupler for cars, a me tallic housing provided with means for attachment to a mechanical car coupler, an insulation face block removably secured in one end of the housing, and a removable cover attached to the opposite end thereof, in combination with a plurality of contact making units independently removably mounted in the housing each embodying an insulation holder provided with a reduced extension forming a shoulder, a depressible contactor mounted in one end thereof, and means for attaching a conductor projecting from the opposite end of said holder.

21. In an electric coupler for connecting a train line circuit comprising a metallic housing having an opening formed therein; a contact making unit removably mounted in the opening in the housing comprising an insulation holder having a reciprocating contactor mounted therein and having one end projecting from the holder and exposed, means disposed at one end of the contactor for attaching a conductor thereto, resilient means for holding the contactor normally with the contactor end projected and an insulation space block having a perforation to receive said contactor whereby the unit is retained in said housing.

In testlmony whereof we afiix our slgnatures.

WILLIAM A. DARRAH. REX G. AVERILL. 

